NEWS
The 12th International Short Film Days Festival Launched at Gorky Film Studio
Photo: Press service of the Short Film Days Festival
December 16, 2025, Moscow
The opening ceremony of the 12th International Short Film Days Festival took place on 14 December in the Gorky Hall, Gorky Film Studio. The festival programmes, dates and venues, as well as the juries and categories were presented during the event. The audience was greeted by Sergei Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of the Presidential Executive Office, Yevgeny Gerasimov, Chair of the jury, People’s Artist of Russia, and Yuliana Slashcheva, CEO of the Gorky Film Studio. Yevgeny Murakhveri, Deputy Director General of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, and Dmitry Yakunin, General Producer of the festival, addressed the public. Film actor and musician Sergey Goroshko was the host of the ceremony. The festival was unveiled by the short drama “Krovix”, with Yulia Snigir, Violeta Yamova and Nikita Efremov starring, directed by Mariam Khalilova. The opening ceremony ended with the performance of the musical group ME4TA, fronted by theatre and film actor Yevgeny Tsyganov.
The festival’s screenings, educational and business programmes will be held on 15 to 21 December at the Art Centre of the Contemporary Art Institute (CAI) at the KrasnyOktyabr. The festival events are open for free attendance upon prior registration. The closing ceremony will take place on 21 December at the CAI Art Centre.
Closing ceremony of the festival:
Date: 21 December, Sunday
Venue: Art Centre of the Contemporary Art Institute, build. 1, h. 8, Bersenevskaya Emb.
Media accreditation: 16:30
Welcome reception: 17:00
Beginning of the ceremony: 18:00
Please be advised to submit applications for accreditation by e-mail:
Egor Lozovoyegor.lozovoy@insidepromotion.ru
The list of guests who walked along the opening red carpet included actors Alexandra Kiselyova, Kirill Zaitsev, Vladimir Kanukhin, Anastasia Popova, Taisya Kalinina, Timofey Kochnev, Yulia Volkova, producers Konstantin Vladimirov, Albert Ryabyshev, Anton Smirnov, Armen Ananikyan, General Director of Moskino Georgy Prokopov, General Director of Art Masters Borislav Volodin, Executive Director of Apkit Olga Zhukova and other guests.
The festival’s screenings, educational and business programmes will be held on 15 to 21 December at the Art Centre of the Contemporary Art Institute (CAI) at the KrasnyOktyabr. The festival events are open for free attendance upon prior registration. The closing ceremony will take place on 21 December at the CAI Art Centre.
Closing ceremony of the festival:
Date: 21 December, Sunday
Venue: Art Centre of the Contemporary Art Institute, build. 1, h. 8, Bersenevskaya Emb.
Media accreditation: 16:30
Welcome reception: 17:00
Beginning of the ceremony: 18:00
Please be advised to submit applications for accreditation by e-mail:
Egor Lozovoyegor.lozovoy@insidepromotion.ru
The list of guests who walked along the opening red carpet included actors Alexandra Kiselyova, Kirill Zaitsev, Vladimir Kanukhin, Anastasia Popova, Taisya Kalinina, Timofey Kochnev, Yulia Volkova, producers Konstantin Vladimirov, Albert Ryabyshev, Anton Smirnov, Armen Ananikyan, General Director of Moskino Georgy Prokopov, General Director of Art Masters Borislav Volodin, Executive Director of Apkit Olga Zhukova and other guests.
Photo: Press service of the Short Film Days Festival
More than 1,030 applications from 29 countries and 59 regions of Russia were sent to participate in this year’s festival programme, of which 49 works from 13 countries, including Russia, Singapore, China, Peru, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Egypt, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, UAE were selected for the competition. Twelve films of these number are premieres, Russian and international.
The opening ceremony offered an interactive journey through five eras of film making: silent screen, sound films, colour cinematography, the era of digital content and artificial intelligence.
Information officer for public projects of the Presidential Executive Office Vladimir Kosteev passed the greetings from Sergei Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of the Presidential Executive Office:
The opening ceremony offered an interactive journey through five eras of film making: silent screen, sound films, colour cinematography, the era of digital content and artificial intelligence.
Information officer for public projects of the Presidential Executive Office Vladimir Kosteev passed the greetings from Sergei Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of the Presidential Executive Office:
“
This is a bright event in the cultural life of our country, an opportunity to get in touch with the world of film making by the young and assess its prospects. Short films are a separate format, as necessary and important for the film industry as feature films, TV series and animated films, which is confirmed by unfailing interest of the audience. I wish success to the festival and prosperity to the young gifted participants
Yevgeny Murakhveri, Deputy Director General of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives:
“
The fact that we are supporting the Short Film Days festival for the fourth time can be considered a quality warrant. We do not allow grants to projects that remain unchanged or do not develop. This year we will see a whole programme related to artificial intelligence, which once again confirms that this festival evolves and transforms qualitatively from year to year. The most important thing is that the films selected by the gatekeepers will be available not only in Moscow for a week, but for several months in the regions of Russia and abroad.
Yevgeny Gerasimov, Chairman of the Moscow Municipal Entity of the Russian Union of Cinematographers, Chairman of the jury of the festival, People’s Artist of Russia:
“
The festival, which is held with the support of the Moscow Municipal Entity of the Russian Union of Cinematographers, is becoming more vibrant and more ambitious every year, opening up new names, expanding the boundaries of youth film making. I wish the participants and award winners new creative victories and success.
Juliana Slashcheva, Director General of the Gorky Film Studio:
“
This year, the grand opening of the festival is taking place for the first time at the Gorky Hall, a high-tech multifunctional hall, which is the Gorky Film Studio’s new venue. The Hall was unveiled quite recently and became an important stage in the modernization programme of the film studio that which has turned the corner this year. We are glad that this place is already attracting the attention of the film and media industry and hope that our cooperation will definitely continue. Our doors are always open to those who shoot, show and promote films.
Photo: Press service of the Short Film Days Festival
Dmitry Yakunin, General Producer of the festival:
“
It has been important for us over these twelve years of the festival’s existence to draw the attention of the audience, platforms and the film industry to short films, to prove that this category of films is important and interesting. I’m looking at the full house and I believe we’re on the right track. Our festival is growing year by year – we are receiving more and more applications, offering more programmes, attracting new venues, expanding the geography of the Festival Echo and stepping into international cooperation.
As part of the opening ceremony, the winners of the Trailers of Victory, organized by ArtMasters, were awarded. Young directors, participants of the competition, edited and put together trailers for 12 famous Soviet films about the Great Patriotic War. Letters of appreciation from the Presidential Chief of Staff Anton Vaino were addressed to the film editors Marina Eliseeva and Marina Gardash, as well as Borislav Volodin, CEO of ANO ArtMasters.
The opening ceremony also offered its podium to awarding the winners of the Microdrama Pitching, which was organized by MovieStart Production Centre with the support of Lime HDI for the first time in our country. The winners received awards from Vladimir Sivov, CEO of the online platform Kinolenta, Wenwen Han, CEO OF the Short Drama Alliance and Cassandra Yang, CEO of Rising Joy, a leading microdrama distributor.
The winners of Microdrama Pitching Session are:
3rd place– screenwriter Daria Revyakina (“Between the Boss, the Husband and His Mistress”)
2nd place– screenwriter Elena Arbuzova (“Bride’s Delivery Included”)
1st place – director Ivan Ponkratov, producer of Valeria Yaskula ("Marriage Games").
The opening ceremony also offered its podium to awarding the winners of the Microdrama Pitching, which was organized by MovieStart Production Centre with the support of Lime HDI for the first time in our country. The winners received awards from Vladimir Sivov, CEO of the online platform Kinolenta, Wenwen Han, CEO OF the Short Drama Alliance and Cassandra Yang, CEO of Rising Joy, a leading microdrama distributor.
The winners of Microdrama Pitching Session are:
3rd place– screenwriter Daria Revyakina (“Between the Boss, the Husband and His Mistress”)
2nd place– screenwriter Elena Arbuzova (“Bride’s Delivery Included”)
1st place – director Ivan Ponkratov, producer of Valeria Yaskula ("Marriage Games").
Photo: Press service of the Short Film Days Festival
The closing ceremony at the Art Centre of Contemporary Art Institute on 21 December will see the awarding of film festival winners and the premiere of the short film “Don’t Call Me Anymore” (directed by Denis Cheryokha, with Alexandra Kiselyova starring).
Alexandra Kiselyova, actress, choreographer, producer and member of the TikTok Generation Jury, shared her view:
Alexandra Kiselyova, actress, choreographer, producer and member of the TikTok Generation Jury, shared her view:
“
I believe that cinema is a subjective art. The fact that so many works by talented authors have been selected for the competition programme shows that you have made powerful and interesting works. What comes next depends on fate and luck.
The jury will select winners from among the participating films in the following categories:
Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Animated Film, Best Neural Network Film, Best film according to the TikTok Generation Jury, Best film according to the Jury of TG Channels about Cinema, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Production, Best Acting, Best Screenplay. The winning films will be awarded with the signature statuette of the festival.
Additional prizes will also be awarded this year:
– VK Creative Special prize “New Episodes”, the opportunity to promote the film in the VK product ecosystem in the amount equivalent to 1 million roubles,
– Special prize in the Feature Film category from the radio partner Radio Romantica,
– Special Prize from the 2x2 TV Channel in the Animated Film category.
Upon the end of the festival, non-commercial screenings will be held in cinemas, theatres, universities, libraries, schools, Internet portals, museums, co-working facilities and art venues in Russian cities from 21 December, 2025 to March 31, 2026 as part of the Echo Festival. This time, films are planned for screening at more than 700 venues in at least 70 regions of Russia and 25 countries around the world.
The International Short Film Days Festival is being implemented with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives.
Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Animated Film, Best Neural Network Film, Best film according to the TikTok Generation Jury, Best film according to the Jury of TG Channels about Cinema, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Production, Best Acting, Best Screenplay. The winning films will be awarded with the signature statuette of the festival.
Additional prizes will also be awarded this year:
– VK Creative Special prize “New Episodes”, the opportunity to promote the film in the VK product ecosystem in the amount equivalent to 1 million roubles,
– Special prize in the Feature Film category from the radio partner Radio Romantica,
– Special Prize from the 2x2 TV Channel in the Animated Film category.
Upon the end of the festival, non-commercial screenings will be held in cinemas, theatres, universities, libraries, schools, Internet portals, museums, co-working facilities and art venues in Russian cities from 21 December, 2025 to March 31, 2026 as part of the Echo Festival. This time, films are planned for screening at more than 700 venues in at least 70 regions of Russia and 25 countries around the world.
The International Short Film Days Festival is being implemented with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives.
Photo: Press service of the Short Film Days Festival
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
In 2014, the All-Russian Event Short Film Days was held in our country for the first time, coinciding with 21st December, the shortest day of the year. In 2022, the project received the status of an international film festival and was supported by the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives (PFCI). Such famous film makers and experts as Vladimir Khotinenko, Yuri Bykov, Anton Kalinkin, Ivan Kudryavtsev, Vladimir Kott, Maria Lemesheva, Sergey Pershin, Alexander Tsypkin and others have sat on the jury over the years.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER
MOVIESTART PRODUCTION CENTRE
The MovieStart Production Centre was established in 2019 to support young film makers in Russia and promote various formats of author developed feature and non-feature films, such as short films, web series, film almanacs, social commercials, etc.
The centre was founded by Dmitry Yakunin, member of the Board of the Regional Cinema Support Fund, member of the Public Council of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
The main projects organised with the participation of the production centre include the Pitching Session of Debutants, the portal for young cinematographers MovieStart, the Moscow International Film Festival “Let's Live”, the Script Writing Laboratory “Method” to name but a few.
VKontakte page of the festival: https://vk.com/shortfilmdays
Telegram channel of the festival: https://t.me/shortfilmdays
In 2014, the All-Russian Event Short Film Days was held in our country for the first time, coinciding with 21st December, the shortest day of the year. In 2022, the project received the status of an international film festival and was supported by the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives (PFCI). Such famous film makers and experts as Vladimir Khotinenko, Yuri Bykov, Anton Kalinkin, Ivan Kudryavtsev, Vladimir Kott, Maria Lemesheva, Sergey Pershin, Alexander Tsypkin and others have sat on the jury over the years.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER
MOVIESTART PRODUCTION CENTRE
The MovieStart Production Centre was established in 2019 to support young film makers in Russia and promote various formats of author developed feature and non-feature films, such as short films, web series, film almanacs, social commercials, etc.
The centre was founded by Dmitry Yakunin, member of the Board of the Regional Cinema Support Fund, member of the Public Council of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
The main projects organised with the participation of the production centre include the Pitching Session of Debutants, the portal for young cinematographers MovieStart, the Moscow International Film Festival “Let's Live”, the Script Writing Laboratory “Method” to name but a few.
VKontakte page of the festival: https://vk.com/shortfilmdays
Telegram channel of the festival: https://t.me/shortfilmdays
Photo: Press service of the Short Film Days Festival